UConn’s backcourt-driven national title weekend emphasizes MSU’s harsh truth – Spartans once had best team in country

It turned out Connecticut’s guards were better than any other team in this NCAA tournament — Kentucky, Florida and Michigan State included.

MSU once had a similar backcourt, with Kentucky- and Florida-type pieces around it.

If I were Tom Izzo or Keith Appling, or any member of MSU’s program from November through early January, I’m not sure watching UConn’s Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright dribble around and shoot over the talented and youthful Wildcats Monday night would make me feel any better.

Yes, the team that beat the Spartans in the regional finals won it all, showing its dizzying spurts, backcourt-based defensive pressure and wiry interior defenders could hold up against anyone in college basketball.

Except maybe MSU, as it once was.

When the Spartans beat Kentucky, 78-74, on Nov. 12 in Chicago, they had a Napier-Boatright backcourt. That’s was Appling and Gary Harris were, in tandem — both that night, when they combined for 42 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals against the Wildcats’ Harrison twins, and later, other than when Harris battled an ankle sprain in December and until Appling’s wrist injury took hold of his season.

Aaron and Andrew Harrison weren’t then yet what they became in March. But Appling and Harris ran circles around them. Appling especially, with 22 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Remember that Appling.

Contrast him with the player who finished in New York against Napier. No comparison. Imagine that matchup — Appling then and Napier now. They might have been the best two point guards in the country.

Imagine Appling and Harris with Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson as they were playing at season’s end, and with Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice …

There wasn’t a better team playing this weekend in Texas.

It’s a harsh truth. Injuries happen. But MSU had a championship team. Just didn’t win a championship.

48 Responses to UConn’s backcourt-driven national title weekend emphasizes MSU’s harsh truth – Spartans once had best team in country

I agree we win the NC with a healthy Keith Appling, However I feel better that it was injury and not chemistry like 2011. As it was with KA hurt we were the equal of Kentucky and Florida and arguably the second best team in the nation playing four on five

I hope Keith can overcome the emotionally draining last month. The kid had heart and was willing to give it all for his team and his coaches. Move on Keith. Here’s hoping you can find your confidence and a place to continue to play basketball. You will be remembered as a Spartan Warrior.

i agree. i’ve heard enough. we probably would have gotten out of our bracket if we didn’t have to play UCONN at the garden. i now hate villanova for losing to them. nova was the worst 2 seed i’ve ever seen. as for appling, i won’t miss seeing him spend half the game falling on the floor.

Probably not, Chris. But in the internet age of media, there are about four more months of offseason filler posts and stories to feed the beast. After spring football, and other than a couple drafts and decisions, most of what anyone writes about MSU or college football / basketball teams anywhere between now and August isn’t necessary.

Actually I think couch nailed it and I don’t think this, after uconn’s win had been discussed specifically… I’d wish I’d hear more from izzo on specifics to why??? I personally don’t think appoints wrist was the real reason for poor play…more to the story. I just don’t think we were prepared properly for that guard play…

The Truth i.s the Truth… the entire season the officiating was tipped against us/MSU… I have no doubt that the officials are/were paid off/given orders from headquarters to “tilt the table” against the SPARTANS… We played above all of the crooked officiating 29 out of 38 times… AND the UCONN game was tilted very well… “They” did the same thing to us against DUKE last year… WAKE UP… “They have to CHEAT US TO BEAT US”… AND “THEY” DO!!!! ….TRUTH!

yeah… right… Doesn’t Matter what YOU say… you ARE NOT a Spartan… and you are not a fan of MSU… What I said IS the TRUTH… and DESPITE this TRUTH… We won 29 out of 38 games…Try eating ORGANIC… That.s the truth as well…NEXT!

Really? So any time they lose, the officials must have been paid off, there must be a conspiracy? There is no way possible that MSU didn’t play well or the other team just played better? People like you gave a bad look to all MSU fans. Against UConn, MSU there was a foul disparity, but if you watched the game, it was clearly because MSU fell in love with jump shots that game while UConn continued to drive. There may have been a few missed or bad calls, but no more so than in any college basketball game.

No read what I wrote… the officiating was slanted against us in ALL 38 Games… WE WON 29…. And there IS NO IF AND OR BUTS ABOUT IT… I Watched the Game… AND There was a LOT OF MISSED CALLS…So who are you “J”… your not a SPARTAN Alumnus or FAN… and if you think you are… We would DEFINITELY be better off without “U”…

i was at the duke game last year and you are right. we cut it to one at halftime and the refs completely took over the second half. we would have lost to louisville anyway but izzo gets no respect compared to the crybaby duke coach.

They got to “Cheat Us To Beat Us”… AND you can “bet” that Coach IZZO coaches the team to “play above” it and do everything we can to take it out of the officials hands… It is just IMPOSSIBLE to do everytime… and we didn’t against UCONN…

While I don’t believe in any sort of conspiracy, I ABSOLUTELY believe that there exists a general officiating bias against MSU, based on the long accepted notion of our “rough” style of play. Football on the basketball court. I think the officials come into games thinking, the Spartans play rough and should be more closely scrutinized based on this reputation.

Seriously, your season has been over for almost 2 weeks. MSU didn’t win the title, fair and square. You had all your players back for the last 10 games and didn’t win. How come nobody complained about injuries when they won, only when they lost? I love how the MSU media acts with certainty that MSU would have won if this or if that. MSU season in a nutshell: One Whining Moment, starring Tom Izzo.

Basketball talent is basketball talent, no matter if it comes from the suburbs or the city. Take the time to know and understand me before you judge me. Only God can do that. Roses do grow from concrete!

oh so now you are going to invoke some self-righteous, self-pitying stance in the name of GOD… If you were doing GOD’s Will… Well let’s just say you wouldn’t be commenting on sports stories… If you are A SPARTAN Alumnus or Fan would NEVER call other SPARTANS “Whiners”… and if so you should be embarassed and ashamed… Your only fooling yourself… not me… GO STATE… GO GREEN… GO WHITE… GO M S U !

hey mark welcome back, you’re lucky your boss feels sorry for you, and please, CWEBB in bankrupts, hey may have had that much at one time, but not anymore. BK commercials LOL Give him a Big Mac Mark unless you can’t afford it either LOL

Healthy, MSU “may” have had what it takes to win the title. However it was no way guaranteed. Even when they were healthy and riding high, UNC came into the Breslin and handled them. A UNC team that was talented, but very inconsistent. All it takes is one bad game or one great game from the other team in the tourney to be sitting at home.

Your comment shows that you know little about MSU basketball, or have a very short memory. Against NC, Costello was running a fever (the beginning of his mono), Appling severly injured his wrist, Harris was cramping badly in the second half and Payne was having foot pains and was not mobile.

Also, on a related subject, Wisconsin used the same starting in all 38 games they played this season and lasted only one game further in the NCAA Tournament. Now, if the situations were reversed and we had the same lineup and they had all the injuries, who do you think would have gone further in the tournament?

Anyone who wins any kind of title in any sport has to be good, lucky and healthy. If one or more of these attributes are missing, you don’t win.

It doesn’t really surprise that you’d consider Jalen Rose’s Desire’s to be far more important than Honesty and Integrity… Just sayin’… A Michigan Man IS a Michigan Man… and as we all know Integrity has nothing to do w/that.

Hey Chris if any title should get vacated it will be the 89 title scUM won with remedial robinson, and of course Rose wants those banners restored, he’s a drunk junkie, what do you expect? How are those finances of yours coming along ?

who’s your team… and why are you commenting on MSU Spartans… If your not an Alumnus or Fan… well then your comment(s) and opinion(s) are not necessary or welcome here… show yourself… who’s you team… what’s your real interest?!

nope I was asked to promote but I declined, I like seeing people like you getting taken advantage of rather than sitting in a cozy office, and Ted is right. I’m not bankrupt and wouldn’t have blown all that money that you never did earn, you should be in prison for embezzlement with your buddy remedial robinson

About this blog

Graham Couch@Graham_CouchBorn and bred in Lansing, Graham Couch returned to his hometown in September to be the LSJ's sports columnist. He's covered Michigan State since January, after nearly a decade covering Western Michigan University and the Freeport (Ill.) Pretzels.